The Air National Guard was recently awarded the Major General Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award for the most exemplary flight safety record of all Air Force major commands during fiscal 2012.

Brig. Gen. Robert S. Williams, the commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center here, accepted the award on behalf of the men and women of the ANG.

"When I heard the Air National Guard was awarded the Benjamin D. Foulois award for flight safety, I wasn't surprised at all," Williams said. "The past four years have been the safest in the Air National Guard's history. As the commander of the ANGRC, I have the privilege and luxury of seeing the daily outstanding work from our Airmen from all 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia."

The Order of Daedalians presents the Foulois Award annually to the Air Force major command that achieved the best flying safety record as determined by the Air Force chief of staff.

The ANG, which includes 93 wings, flew 1,213 aircraft more than 348,000 flight hours. This accounted for 30 percent of the combat Air Force's mission. There were 12 unique missions with high mishap potential and not a single fighter Class-A mishap in 139,000 flight hours was recorded.

The ANG Maintenance Resource Management program sets the Air Force standard that resulted in a two-year 86 percent reduction in maintenance mishaps and saved more than $78 million.

"What these Airmen do is amazing and I'm proud to accept this award on behalf of the men and women who exemplify the core values of integrity, service and excellence," Williams said. "Our outstanding safety record is the result. What can I say? Safety is simply part of our DNA that defines who we are."

The Order of Daedalians was formed in 1921 to honor the sacrifices made by the first American pilots. The Daedalians began presenting annual awards for excellence in flight in 1938.